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n occas Il! N. FErERs, PHOTmLITHOGRAPER, WASHINGTON. D C.

Janekmam y una@ N PETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n C.

@uitrit tstrs atrut @fitta IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS .FOR SMELTING- ZINCGRES.

@its .Stigetule nfertet tu iu tiges: etters tteut mit mating grat nftige simu.

TO WHOM IT MAY'CONCERN:

Be it known that ALFRED BORGNET, of Swansea, England, have inventedcertain improvements in Furnaces, Betorts, and .Apparatus for Smeltingor Treating Zinc Ones, and for other purposes; and I hereby declaro,that the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same isto be performed are fully described and ascertained in and by thefollowing statement thereof, reference being had to the drawingshereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that isto say:

My invention of improvements in furnaces, retorts, and apparatus forsmelting or treating zinc ores, and for other purposes, consists, first,of a mode of employing two or more fire-gratos to each furnace; and,second, of employing retorts, protectors, and heat-regulators havingcooling air, vapor, or liquid circulating or passing within them, and byplacing them between the said vfire-gratos and the lowest tier or row ofretorts in the furnace; and, third, of employing distilling rctortshaving special proportions of parts or form, together with, fourth,special forms of andparts in condensing-tubes conjoined with the saiddistilling retorts 5 and, further, iitth, in employing tubes for thecirculation or passage of cooling air, vapor, or liquid placed on theoutside of large retorts or inutiles, and in such a position, upon themas to be wholly or in part between the furnace fire or the current ofheat directed against the retorts or muiles.

The employment of the protectors and heat-regulators, as described,materially assists in preserving the distilling retorts from thedestructive action of the heat and in diffusing it throughout thefurnace; Y

The condensing-tubes are made, by preference, the outer one of sheetiron and the inner one of fire-clay'. My improvements in thelatter-mentioned tube consist, first, of partly closing its endadjoining the distilling retort, as shown in the drawing, by which theliquid metal is prevented from running back into` the distilling retort;and, secondly, in forming `the upper part of the same end of the tube ofan angular shape, by which the condensation of the zinc vapor passingfrom the distilling retort is greatly facilitated. And my improvement inthe outer said condensing sheet-iron-tube consists of a low partition orledge formed across it on its lower side, within, and so as to be nearthe end of the last-mentioned tube when in position. By this partitionor ledge the condensed metal and oxide are kept separate within the saidtube.

My improvements in the Adistilling retorts consist in the proportions ofform given to it, first, for obtaining the strength required, and,secondly, for the more equal action of heat upon the'ore being distilledwithin it.

My improvements in the retort protectors and heat-regulators consist incausing cooling currents of air to pass or circulate through them inpipes or tubes or channels. The circulating or passing of air directfrom the atmosphere into and through the protectors and tubes will insome cases' be occasioned suiciently by the rarefaetion of the air inthe'said protectors and tubes, producing a natural draught, and this' isfacilitated by placing one end higher than the other of each protcctorertube in the furnace. In other cases it is desirable to force and drawthe cooling air, vapor, or 'liquid through the said protectors or tubesby any convenient mechanical means ordinarily used forsnch a purpose.The rapidity of the passing of such cooling air, vapor, or'liquid shouldgenerally be regulated by the workman attending the furnace, accordingto the amount of heat he may require. v y l l In order to illustrate theapplication of my said improvements, referred to above, marked 1, 2, 3,4,1 show in the annexed drawings a complete zinc ore furnace in additionto the gures delineating my said invention; and I show that my saidinvention renders practicable the combination of the chief advantagesrespectively of the Silesian and the Belgian system of zinc furnaces,resulting in great economy of labor in working the new system and inincreased production therefrom. In the said drawings Figure 1, Sheet I,represents a front elevation of the said furnace.

Figure 1, bis, a longitudinal section ofthe same at the line A B ofFigure 2, Sheet II, which is a plan thereof.

Figure 3. Sheet III. a. transverse section at'the line C D of Hg. 1; and

Figure 4, a back elevation of it.

Sheet IV, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, represents in section and plan theron-work of the front part of, the furnace, and a section and plan ofthe said new distilling retort, and of the said sheet-iron outer tube;and

Figure 5 shows the form of the said inner clay tube or condenser.

Figure 6, Sheet V, represents the application of the said protectors andheat-regulators for shielding the distilling retorts from the directaction of the res and for assisting the distribution of heat throughoutthe furnace.

The retorts, protectors, and heat-regulators, shown in Sheets I, II,III, und IV, and 1n iig. 6, Sheet V, are by preference composed of aseries of fire-clay tubes, open at both ends, and placed within a largerone having a transverse section to the said distillng retort, or aseries of fire-clay tubes placed near together with-T out exteriorenvelope.

Figure 7, Sheet V, shows the application of the principle of my saidimproved protectors and heat-regulators Y to the ordinary Silesian zincretorts or munies. An open fire-clay pipe or tube or channel is placedfrom the front thereof along the top and down the back, where it forms achamber, and thence, by branches -along the sides, returns to the front;and

Figure 8, Sheet V, represents one mode of applying the said principle tothe protectors used in the Belgian furnaces.

The hole in the back of the said protectors in the Belgian furnaces,being carefully closed, a small clay tube or pipe is placed within it,and reaching nearly to the closed end, serves to conduct a coolingcurrent of air, vapor, or liquid into it, and which can then pass awayat the front end thereof.

Having described the nature of my invention and the manner of carryingthe same into effect, I do not confine myself to the precise detailsso`long as the principles of the said improvements are retained, andwhat I claim are the several improvements and combinations hereindescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

' A. BORGNET.

Witnesses:

H. J. Wnnfrnns, J. N. Rrnnnnson.

